Has very good speed which can make him dangerous on the vertical routes and specail teams. Can make the quick move after the catch and gets yards there. Tracks the deep ball fairly well and will lay out for those throws. Gets a decent release off the line and has burst on the short routes. Is a willing blocker downfield and does a nice job using his hands to get position against the corner.

CONS:

Marred by concussions and injuries. Has only average hands and doesn't do a great job attacking the ball in the air. Lets passes get into his body, which limits how effective he's in traffic since defenders can break it up. Doesn't separate as well as a player with his speed and quickness should. Doesn't do a good job securing the ball after the catch, and will not secure it against his body when it's in his hands, leading to some ball security issues. As a kickoff returner, doesn't accelerate as cleanly as someone with his speed should and spends too much time going east and west.

OVERVIEW:

Owusu is essentially a one-dimensional vertical threat that was Andrew Luck's main threat on the outside the past few years. He's a solid return threat, but his average hands, size, and the fact that he has durability concerns will limit his potential at the next level. He suffered 2 concussions during his senior, marking his third over a 14-month span going back to his junior year. His last one against Oregon State this past November resulted in him being carted off the field. The concussions could be a factor since he suffered multiple over the course of multiple seasons.

- missed 3.5 games due to concussions in 2011- missed 3 games due to knee injuries, 1 due to concussion, and 2 more for undisclosed injuries in 2010- tore his MCL in August of 2008

NFL FORECAST:

Owusu can add depth to a team, and provide some vertical presence on the outside for somebody. But even if he had no durability concerns, he still would be a limited wide receiver prospect. He just doesn't have the size, hands, or ball skills to really think he's more than a one-note vertical threat. If he can perform on kickoff returns and special teams, then he can definitely find a role at the next level. But if he can't, speed is only going to get you so far. Against, physical corners he's not going to win very many matchups. As a third or fourth option that a team wants to stretch the field, he can add value similar to a poor man's Devery Henderson. But he's not a guy that you can trust to show up every week on offense. He'll make the occasional big play down the field, but he's more in line with the guy that only catches 15-20 passes a year in that role, which is ideally a fourth option. His primary value on the next level will be as a return threat. While he worked exclusively on kickoffs at Stanford, I do think he has a decent enough skillset that he could also return punts. If he can impact there as a returner, then he can stick on a team and add depth as a fourth receiver. But if not, and/or he cannot stay healthy, then he's going to be hard-pressed to last more than a three or so seasons before his NFL career is over.

NFL COMPARISON:

Michael Spurlock, Chargers.

ATL FORECAST:

Owusu can compete right away for the fourth spot on the depth chart because of his ability to help out as a return threat. He can slide into Weems vacated spot on kickoffs, and potentially be developed as a punt returner. Although if that ability never develops, then the Falcons should be fine with either Franks or Douglas there. Owusu can help out a bit on offense by giving the team another true burner as a vertical threat on the outside to team with Jones. But like Weems, he'll be a limited and rare contributor on offense. But potentially you could see him catching around 20-25 passes with some long bombs sprinkled in there if Matt Ryan becomes a better vertical passer in the coming years. All he'll ever be is a kickoff returner/No. 4 receiver with really no upside to develop into anything more.

VALUE:

If a team can sign off medically on the concussions and has need for a return threat, then Owusu is good enough to merit a fifth or sixth round pick. Purely as a wideout, he's nothing more than a seventh round pick, but if a team likes his potential as a returner enough that could bump him up a few rounds.

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